Toe and foot exercising device



July 4, 1950 s. FAYNE TOE AND FOOT EXERCISINGYDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1947 IN VEN TOR. fz' p/vg-y Know? 15% @Z flffOE/Vi/J July 4, 1950 S. FAYNE TOE AND FOOT EXERCISING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE/- TOE AND FOOT EXERCISING DEVICE I Sydney Fayne, New York, N. Y. Application June 25, 1947, Serial No. 756,323

6 Claims.

This invention relates to atoe and foot exercising device for exerting traction on the toes of the feet to thereby stretch the muscles, ligaments and joint capsules so as to correct malpositioning of the bones thereof. v 1 a The invention has for an object the provision of a base provided with toe engaging elements and an upstanding fulcrum member adapted to be arranged between the feet when in use as an exercising device with one of the toe engaging elements disposed in engagement with a toe of one of the feet of the user and the other toe engaging element disposed in engagement against a toe of the other foot of the user.

The invention has for a further object th provision of a device of said character which includes a base provided with toe engaging elements which are swingably associated with the base so that the same are free to assume the angular positions best fitted for comfortably engaging between the toes of the foot without binding thereof or engagement in angular relationtherewith.

.Another object of the invention is the provision of a toe and foot exercising. device which is ad justable to accommodate the particular requirement of the user and which may be secured in adjusted set position.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made to the following specifica tion and accompanying'drawing s in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device for correcting malpo sitioning of the toes of the foot illustrating the device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of a modified form of w the invention.

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof. Fig. 6 is a side view of'the same on a reduced scale.

elements I l are pivotally connected adjacent the forward end thereof and mounteduponthe base is an upstanding fulcrum member l2 which is adjustable longitudinally thereof for disposing the same in the desired spaced relation from thetoe engaging elements H. e e The toe engaging elements. have;upwardly directed arcuate shaped ends.l3 adapted to be disposed between the toes of the feet and to engage over the toes requiring correction. The ends I3. are of inwardly bowed formation so that the toes are engaged by the convex faces l lthereof when subjected to traction for stretching the muscles. ligaments and joint capsules in straightening or correcting the malpositioning thereof. The-elements II project laterally outward from the forward end of the base and have swinging movement on the screw studs [5 so that the same may assume angular positions to dispose the ends l3 centrally against the sides of the toes when the toes are out of normal aligmnent.

The fulcrum member 12 consists of a bottom wall l6 and upstanding arcuate shaped opposite side walls I! which are adapted to be engaged respectively by the sides of the feet at the instep withv thetoes requiring correction respectively engaged by the ends 13 of the elements I I. Screw studs IB'eX tending through openings l9 inthe bottom wall 16 and through a longitudinally ex,- tending medial slot 20 in the base adjustably mount the fulcrum member upon the base for Fig. '7 is a top plan view of another modified form of the invention. I

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a side view thereof ona reduced scale.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the toe and foot exercising device consists of a flat elongated base ID of rectangular formation in plan to which oppositely disposedtoe engaging movement longitudinally thereof to dispose the same in the desired spaced relation from the-elements ll.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to fiinclusive of the'drawings, the toe and foot exercising device similarly consists of toe engaging elements 22 which are pivotally connected to a flat base 23, but in this instance the screw studs 24 .pivotallyconnecting the elements 22.:with the base 23 protrude through longitudinally extende ing parallel slots 25 in the forwardly projecting ends 26 of the base whereby the elements 22 may be-adjusted longitudinally of the slots 25 to dis pose the same in the desired spaced relation from oppositely disposed side walls 21 forming fulcrum members adapted to be respectivelyengaged by the: sides of the feet at the instep. The side walls 2'! are .ofjarcuate formation in plan and extend upwardly'from the inner edges of the rearwardly The rearwardly projecting ends thus extend laterally outward fom thefside walls 21 so as to underlie the feet when infuse.

In'the form r the invention illustrated in Figs.

7 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, the toe and foot exercising device similarly consists of toe engaging elements and a fulcrum member 3| which is adjustable longitudinally of the base 32 for disposing the same in the desired spaced relation from the toe engaging elements 30. In this form of the invention, however, the toe engaging elements 30 are formed integrally with the base 32 so as to project laterally outwardfrom thelforward end thereof an'd'are provided with upwardly directed arcuate shaped ends 33 adapted to engage over the toes of the feet requiring correction. The fulcrum member 3| similarly consists of a base 34 and oppositely disposed up'standing ai cuate side walls 35 which as illustratedinEig. 7

and feetby positioning the feet in engagement with the fulcrum member and with the toe-engaging members disposed over the toes-of the "feet respectively requiring correction. A rocking actlon'pf'the foot about the fulcrum member to 'spreadthe forward portions of the feetlaterally 'a-part exerts a traction on the toes to effect straightening thereof or to dispose'the same in normal position.

The device may also be employed for producing traction on any of the lesser 'toes as'well as 'exerting'traction on the big toe. For thispurpose, the toeand foot exercising device is provided with supplemental toe engaging elements 38 'as illustrated in Figures"? to 9 inclusive-ofthe "drawin-gs. "In this form. of the invention the supplemental toe engaging elements 3-8 are pivotally attached to the base-SZ adjacent the arcuate shaped All ends 33 for lateral swinging movement with reference thereto. The supplemental toe engaging elements 38 are formed with longitudinally extendingslots 39 opening through the upper and lower facesthereof and in which "studs 4'0 pivotallyconnecting angulated elements 4| are longitudinally slidable. The ang'ulated elements 41 each "consist of a base portion '42 disposed in superimposed relation upon the supplemental toe engaging elements 3'8 and an upstandingarcuate shaped end 43 adapted to engage between, any

two of the lesser toes for exerting traction thereon whenthe foot is rocked about the *fulcrummember 31, The studs adjustably "securing 'the angulated elements to the supplemental toe 'engaging'elementsdt'as we'll'as the studs pivotally connecting the same "to the base '32 are provided with wing nuts'forsecuringthe parts in adjusted relation.

What is claimed is; I "l. Inatoerandffodt exercisingdevice, abase, to'e engaging elements securedito and projecting. laterally outward from the base adjacent the forward end thereof and having upwardly directed arcuate terminals at their outer ends adapted to engagebetweenthe .toes ofthe feet and overthe toes requiring correction,v a fulcrum member secured'to saidfbase in spaced relation fromlsaidftoe engaging elements and including oppositely .disposed upstanding side .wall por tions of arcuate formation in plan .adapted to engage" against thesides .of the feet.respectively adjacent the instep when in use to serve as a fulcrum about which the feet may be rocked for exerting traction on the toes engaged by the toe engaging elements.

2. In a toe and foot exercising device, a base of elongated flat formation, toe engaging elements having upwardly directed arcuate terminals at their outer ends, said toe engaging elements being pivotally connected with said base adjacent the forward end thereof and projecting laterally outward therefrom to dispose the upwardly projecting terminals in position to engage between the toes of the feet of the user with one of said terminals engaging over a toe of one of thefeetan'd :the other terminal engaging over a .toe .of the, other foot, a fulcrum member including upwardly disposed side walls of arcuate formation in-plan,-said fulcrum member and said base having means adjustably connecting the fulcrum member therewith at longitudinally spaced positions to dispose the same in adjustably *spaced relation from the toe engaging-elaments and said fulcrum -member serving as a fulcrum about which the feet of f the user may be rocked for exerting tractionon the toes engaged by the toe engaging elements.

3. In a toe and foot exercising device, a 'base, toe engaging elements having upwardly directed arcuateterm'inals at their outer ends, said base having "longitudinally extending slots adjacent the forward end thereof, means extending through said slots pivotally connecting said toe engaging elements with the 'base for swinging movementto dispose the same in'angular position with reference'to the baseand for adjusting the toe en aging-elements longitudinally of the base, means 'connecte'dwith said base consisting of upstandingifulcrum members disposed in laterally spaced 'relation'adapted to be engaged'by thefeet of'theuser'adj'acent the instep for rocking movement .of the feet for exerting traction onlthe toes engaged by the toe engaging elements.

31.111 a toe and;foot exercising device, .a base, toe engaging elements having upwardly directed terminals at their "outer ends, said toe engaging elements projecting laterally outward from said base at the forward end thereof and adapted to engage-between the toes of the feet with one of said terminals engaging against a toe of one foot of the .user ;and the-other terminal engaging against a toe. of the other foot of the user, .and fulcrum members connected with said base in laterally spaced relation ands aced from said toe engaging elements .to be engagedby the .feet of theuser= adjacentthe instepfor rocking. movement of the feet to thereby exert traction on the toes engaged by the toe engagingelements.

5. In a toe and foot exercising device, --a base, toe-engaging elements having upwardly directed terminals at their'router ends,.-said toe engaging elements projecting laterally outward from said base at the forward end thereof and -.adapted. to engage between the toes .of the feet with one-of said terminals engaging against a toe of vtone foot of the user and the other terminal engaging against. atoe'of the other foot .of the .user, fulcrum members connected withvsaid base in laterally spaced relation and spaced from said toe engaging elements tov be engaged by the.feet of the userladjacent the instep for rocking movement ofthe feet .to thereby exert .traction on the toes engaged by the .toerengaging elements, and supplemental toe engaging elements adjustably connected with said, first mentioned .toelenga ing elements having upwardly directed terminals at their 0111??! finds, for engagement between any wardly of said toe engaging elements and with 10 the center thereof located on a line extending medially between the toe engaging elements, and said fulcrum member including opposite portions 6 adapted to be engaged by the sides of the feet respectively adjacent the instep when in use to serve as fulcrums about which the feet may be rocked for exerting traction on the toes engaged by the toe engaging elements.

SYDNEY FAYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pullman May 30, 1933 Number 

